Pages

There once was an old tale in the house of Willoughby's that if Spaghetti Bolognese wasn't eaten on the night of a Manchester United match then no goals would be scored.... Basically back in the 60s/70s my Nanny made Spaghetti Bolognese and Manchester United won and alas a new tradition/superstition was born. So here is my family recipe to possibly the best Spaghetti Bolognese ever.PLEASE BEAR IN MIND I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL CHEF.AND I AM ONLY COOKING FOR TWO IN THE PHOTOS.

2 tins of chopped tomatoes OR One tin of chopped tomatoes and a packet of passata

500g of beef mince
6 mushrooms (small, chopped)

4 rashers of bacon (Sliced)

1 stock cube

Salt/pepper

Oregano

Olive Oil

Spaghetti bolognese is easily one of the easiest meals to cook, extemely simple and doesn't break the bank - a students paradise:

Instructions:

Put one teaspoon/splash of oil in the a pan on a medium and add the onion, garlic, mushrooms and bacon for around five minutes, stirring regularlyWhack in the mince breaking it up with the spoon until it starts to brown then add the tin of chopped tomatoes with the stock cube (stir until it's dissolved). Cover the pan and leave on a low heat to reduce.

AT THIS POINT I WOULD START BOILING WATER FOR THE SPAGHETTI. PUT A PINCH OF SALT IN BOILING WATER WITH A TEASPOON OF OLIVE OIL. LEAVE ON LOW HEAT TO BOIL WHEN THE WATER IS BUBBLING ADD THE SPAGHETTI AND COOK ACCORDING TO THE PACKET.

Add a pinch of oregano to the bolognese sauce and stir - if the sauce is looking a little dry add a splash of water - it will fix it, trust me.

Drain the spaghetti before returning it to the pan, add a little olive oil to stop it from sticking together. Depending on how you like it you can either stir the bolognese sauce into the spaghetti and serve on to your plates with a sprinkling of cheese (parmesan or cheddar - obviously I didn't have parmesan) and voila! Complete!

This is just a given though isn't it really? The real question is who ISN'T watching Pretty Little Liars right now? I've been watching it since it first started and I cannot believe it is still messing with my mind! Just when you think it's over it starts all over again, probably my favourite show right now.

I only really started watching this in the summer because I got bored (yes I watched four series in less than two weeks, don't judge me). Everyone would always compare me to Jess and I suppose.. I kind of am her. It's very similar. Kinda weird. A very funny show, probably best for this time of year when everyone's a bit down.

Ok, I hold my hands up, this is so trashy but I'm a sucker for a little bit of trashy telly (a lot of). Also, Ibiza has a very very special place in my heart as it's where I first went on a plane to, my first holiday without my parents, it probably was the best time of my life. So I'd happily sit and watch people have just as much fun as I did. Also, I was proper in love with the Magaluf Weekender so.. it only seems right.

I have lived an awfully sheltered life -visiting only three countries in my 22 years. When I finish university this year I am hoping to go travelling the globe a little bit. These are a few places which I am extremely keen to visit.

Amsterdam is somewhere which I've always wanted to visit - no not because of The Fault In Our Stars, when I was a bit younger it was always somewhere that would be absolutely banging for a night out. As I get older I want to see more of the culture. I'm hoping that this is somewhere I'll visit this year (yay!) as it is definitely in the pipeline.

I am such a geek when it comes to museums and Budapest is full of them - including a pinball museum - it's pretty much a dream come true for me. Maybe hopefully this will be a part of my travels.

Do I need to say anymore? The drinking capital of the world! (I don't know if this is a fact.. but it sounds about right) also there is a LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM! - Say no more!

New York at Christmas. This is the dream. I'd love to take my dad too because I know that it's his dream to see the tree at the Rockefeller Center. As someone who is completely in love with Christmas, this is literally the dream.

Obviously this maybe one to visit when I'm less..... single. But look how beautiful it is!

I always feel that Valentine's Day is a lot more in your face when you're single. You have to walk past all the soppy cards and presents in the shops. Then come the adverts. Then the depression..

Now I, have been single all my life so Valentine's doesn't really bother me I once received a Valentine's day card which was thrown in the bin. If you're not man enough to put your name then you're definitely not man enough to be with me... Thirteen year old Beth knows the drill.

As I have been single sooooooooooo long, I feel I've experienced enough Valentine's Day's to make it bearable.

*Be with friends. You don't want to spend the day alone, feeling sorry for yourself, making it all worse do you? Surely you're not the only single person out there! Get all your single friends together and make a night of it! Nobody wants to be alone on Valentines!

*If you're staying in get yourself (AND YOUR GUESTS BECAUSE REMEMBER WE'RE NOT DOING THIS ALONE) a Chinese, watch a few soppy films maybe some gorey ones - and definitely comedies to get you through. My ultimate Valentine's film is Valentine's Day. I sit there every year, kind of like a little tradition and watch it whilst consuming my weight in ice cream.

*If you decide to go out. Don't. Just don't. There will be Desperate Danny's and Debra's all over the dancefloor, lurking around, trying to find vulnerable girls and boys....Unless that is obviously your intention - to pull - then by all means go ahead, what you do in your spare time is none of my business.

Personally. The only way to spend Valentine's is to get all your single friends together with a strictly pyjamas only rule with loads of blankets - it's still technically winter, it's acceptable. Order yourselves a well deserved take-away in front of a film of your choice. Complete with a bottle or two, or three of wine. Play the feel good tunes, the heart breakers, sit around until stupid o' clock slagging down everyone who has broken your heart and ruined your life while some poor arsehole is sat in a restaurant paying a ridiculously expensive bill just to please the one he loves. If you're asking me, that's too much pressure.

Who says Valentine's has to be for couples? Spend it with your friends, get silly drunk, have a laugh, eat fatty foods. Just think, soon all the boxes of chocolates will be on sale so who is the real winner here?

Music is probably the biggest passion of mine. I live a breath it. There is nothing I like more than lying in bed and an absolute banger comes on and it takes you right back to a specific moment. I personally think this is one of the best feelings in the world. Music is such a powerful think.
When I was growing up our local radio station was called Fox FM - my mum lived and breath it, we'd have it on a breakfast, in the car, just around the house. When I hear certain songs come on in nightclubs, or the radio I always think "Oh, this is such a Fox FM track". I have put together, possibly the best Throwback Thursday Playlist ever, there is something in there for everyone to take you right back to your childhood.
Enjoy.